Happy Australia Day, Mate!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. OI!OI!OI! Goes the now familiar chant.

I wanted to say congratulations to fellow blogger and my nearby American "friend" Mooselet and her family for becoming Australian citizens today. How exciting for them! It's like becoming an American citizen on Independence Day.

This season is also known as storm season here in Queensland. Last night we got a real whopper according to The Hubby. Didn't seem all that bad, except for the fast that we had just picked up some DIY bookshelves from the warehouse and they were getting wet in the trailer behind the car as we rushed home. Did I mention that we have TWO sets of gates in our new home? Yep! TWO! One at the street and one at the entrance to the carport and front of the house. They are all of a little over a car length apart so one can park between them for convenience, but we had to get the car AND trailer under the carport ASAP last night. I was completely drenched by the time Hubby got the car parked. Oh, he ALSO put blankets on top of the boxes to help keep the rain off? WTF? It only made things worse! Heavy wet blankets on top of cardboard boxes. Right now those blankets are lying on the carport floor in a heap where I was barely able to drag them off because they were so water-logged and heavy.

We did succeed in getting the bookcases inside and dry, Thank God for not so small miracles. So, after we got all dry and cleaned up, Hubby decides we are now NOT gonna go out to eat, which I'd been looking forward to all day! Grrrrrrr. I convinced him to anyway. We drove first to the local Tavern. One look inside told me We did not want to eat there, so good naturedly drove down to the local Irish Pub. We could hear the badly tuned cover band inside before we even parked. Worse yet, gamely, we walked to the door. As we approached, there were two men standing outside for a smoke....not so uncommon here as smoking is not permitted in any establishments. However, when I passed them I got a whiff of something that was defintely NOT tobacco. WEED! OMG! I honestly cannot remember the last time...no wait, I can remember the last time I smelled it. LOL! Anywho, I was appalled. In public? Here? In suburban Brisbane? I was shocked. This city is in many ways like New Orleans, hot and humid, laid back people and attitudes. But weed in public? I'd never have imagined it. In New Orleans one just expects to see it pretty much everywhere, it's no big deal...but I suppose that's a story for another time.

Well, the music was way too loud for my tastes. I wanted something quiet and intimate for supper. I did get it, by way of Red Rooster and take-away LOL! We ended up home eating our chips and chicken in the new recliners in front of the telly. What a night it was! At least it ended peacefully, with no one maimed beyond recognition and with full bellies to boot. Nice way to end a Thursday night if I do say so myself.

Getting a dog

Finally! My house is sorted out enough to where I can sit down for a few moments to write. I never thought it would come. I'd forgotten how hard it is to move and get things done. I also didn't realise just how much stuff we've accumulated since we got married a little over a year ago. It's enough to have filled this 3 bedroom home we are currently renting....and that's a whole lot! Luckily we also have a nice sized yard to go along with it. Which brings me to what I sat down to write about.

We have decided to adopt a retired greyhound. We made this decision a long time ago...or at least I did. C~ came to agree after we visited the GAP exhibit at The EKKA, a Queensland State Fair. From my point of view, he was quite impressed with the breed. GAP dogs are ones that have been tested with smaller dogs and deemed suitable for adoption to homes. If the dog isn't healthy mentally or physically from the stresses of the track, then they are humanely put to sleep.

C~ and I aren't really picky people. We don't have cats or other small animals that greyhounds like to chase, we also like the idea of NOT having a puppy - This is a definite bonus in the retired dog. I am SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!

We don't really have any idea how soon we will be able to get one. Hopefully not TOO soon. We need at least a couple more weeks to get all the boxes unpacked and also put up a short fence between the house and other fence to separate the front and back yards. This will help keep people from letting the dog out while we are at work. Also, the Energex guy has to come onto the carport to check the electric meter and when we met him a last week he explained that he'd been bitten 27 times and doesn't care what kind of dog we have. I think maybe he's not a nice guy so dogs don't like him if he's gotten bitten that many times. Well, either that or he's just plain stupid around dogs.

Anywho, I'll keep everyone updated on the adoption progress. Until then, I am going to continue reading and learning as much as I can about them.